amazake; sweet low-alcohol sake; fermented rice drink
A traditional Japanese sweet, low- or non-alcoholic drink made from fermented rice. Often served hot in winter and sometimes cold in summer. Can be made from sake lees or from rice koji.
On a cold day, I want to drink amazake and warm up.
Amazake was being served along the approach to the shrine.
Standard kanji spelling.
Rare kanji form; mainly encountered in historical or literary contexts.
From 甘 (sweet) + 酒 (sake/alcohol). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used for centuries to refer to this traditional sweet fermented rice beverage.